Abstract: An apparatus for producing a variable configuration die by using a plurality of pins is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a pin storing device for storing the pins therein; a pin piling device in which the variable configuration die is to be produced; a robot device for transferring the pins from the pin storing device to the pin piling device for making up the variable configuration die; and a computer-aided control device for controlling the robot means in such a manner that the pins carried by the robot means are placed onto given positions of the pin piling device to cause the variable configuration die thus made of the piled pins in the pin piling device to have a layered structure. The variable configuration die thus made up has a recessed die surface which is defined by one ends of the piled pins.

Abstract: An AF camera system for automatically controlling an objective lens for focusing an object includes a focus detector for generating a defocus data DF carrying information of a defocus amount and a defocus direction based on a focus condition of an object to be focused through an objective lens detected in a detection cycle, an infocus detector for detecting an infocus condition based on the defocus data, a lens driver for driving the objective lens based on the defocus amount and defocus direction carried in the defocus data DF when the infocus detection mean did not detect the infocus condition; and a control for controlling the focus adjustment based on defocus data and/or the detection of the infocus condition detected by the infocus detection means.

Abstract: An autofocus camera system for automatically controlling an objective lens for focusing an object includes a focus detector for detecting a focus condition of the photographing lens with respect to the object, an infocus condition detector for detecting an infocus condition of the photographing lens, a plurality of focus adjusting modes including a first mode for prohibiting lens movement after detecting an infocus condition and a second mode for adjusting the photographing lens after detecting an infocus condition, and a selector for automatically selecting one of the focusing adjustment modes.

Abstract: A camera system which comprises a photo-taking lens assembly of varifocal type including a zooming lens and a focusing lens; a manipulatable member; a zooming drive device for driving the zooming lens during a manipulation of the manipulatable member; a focusing device for driving the focusing lens; a focal length detector for sequentially detecting a current focal length of the photo-taking lens assembly; a zooming amount calculator operable to repeatedly add or subtract a predetermined amount to or from the current focal length during the manipulation of the manipulatable member thereby to sequentially update a target focal length used as a reference for the drive of the zooming lens; a first control adapted to receive the target focal length updated by the zooming amount calculator for calculating the amount of deviation in focus which would occur before the target focal length is attained and also for controlling the focusing device so as to eliminate the amount of deviation in focus which has been calcul

Abstract: In an automatic focus control device of a camera there are provided defocus amount calculation means for calculating a defocus amount for a predetermined focus plane of a photographic lens in the camera on the basis of the electric signal generated by a light receiving means, comparing means for comparing the obtained value on the basis of the calculated defocus amount with a reference value, control means controlling driving speed of the photographic lens by the lens driving means in response to the comparison result of a comparing means, photographic condition setting means for setting the photographic condition and reference value setting means for setting said reference value in response to the set photographic condition.

Abstract: In an automatic focus control device of a camera there are provided defocus amount calculation means for calculating a defocus amount for a predetermined focus plane of a photographic lens in the camera on the basis of the electric signal generated by a light receiving means, comparing means for comparing the obtained value on the basis of the calculated defocus amount with a reference value, control means controlling driving speed of the photographic lens by the lens driving means in response to the comparison result of a comparing means, photographic condition setting means for setting the photographic condition and reference value setting means for setting said reference value in response to the set photographic condition.

Abstract: A camera having automatic focus adjusting apparatus employing a continuous photographing mode comprises a focus detecting apparatus for detecting a focusing condition of a photographic lens to output an amount of defocus, and an apparatus for detecting an amount of movement of an object by detecting the amount of defocus of the same object at different times. Since the amount of movement of the object is detected, whether the object is moving or not can be easily determined.

Abstract: An automatic focus adjusting apparatus of a camera calculates amount of defocus of an object, and repeatedly calculates the speed of the image plane of the object based on the amount of defocus. When releasing operation of the camera is started, image plane speed of the object at the time of exposure is estimated by using a secondary curve based on the speed of the image plane, and the lens is driven based on the data thereof. Since the image plane speed of the object is estimated by using the secondary curve equation, correction of the amount of defocus can be accurately done regardless of the speed of movement of the object.

Abstract: A reflex camera capable of automatic focus adjustment comprises a motor for driving a lens used for focus adjustment, an electromagnet for lifting-up a mirror to expose a film at the time of shutter release, a battery for operating the motor and the electromagnet, and a controller for controlling power supply such that the power is supplied to the magnet after the lens is moved by the motor to a position such as an in-focus point. Since the power is supplied to the electromagnet after the completion of power supply to the motor, there is no possibility of malfunction of the electromagnet.

Abstract: An improved focus detecting apparatus comprises a photographic lens, a focus detecting device for detecting the focusing condition of the photographic lens and a lens driving means for driving the photographic lens based on the focusing condition detected, and the photographic lens is driven, in advance, to a focusing position where a frequently used magnification rate determined in accordance with the focal length of said photographic lens is attained, and then driven to an in-focus position.

Abstract: In an automatic focus control device of a camera there are provided defocus amount calculation means for calculating a defocus amount for a predetermined focus plane of a photographic lens in the camera on the basis of the electric signal generated by a light receiving means, comparing means for comparing the obtained value on the basis of the calculated defocus amount with a reference value, control means controlling driving speed of the photographic lens by the lens driving means in response to the comparison result of a comparing means, photographic condition setting means for setting the photographic condition and reference value setting means for setting said reference value in response to the set photographic condition.

Abstract: An autofocus camera comprises a focus detector for detecting a deviation of a photographic lens from an in-focus position with respect to a photographic object, a mirror driver for moving a mirror for reflecting a light beam from the photographic object to a viewfinder optical system, into and out of an image-forming optical path, a lens driver for moving the photographic lens to the in-focus position in accordance with the deviation detected by the focus detector, and an aperture controller for stopping down the light beam from the photographic object. The lens driver has a function for moving the photographic lens, and the aperture controller a function for making aperture adjustment, both during retraction of the mirror. During retraction of the mirror, the aperture adjustment is effected before the lens movement or vice versa.

Abstract: A camera with an automatic focusing device has an objective lens mounted on a camera. An image formed by the objective lens is divided into a plurality of zones. In each zone, a brightness distribution is obtained so as to detect a rough focusing condition in each zone, thereby producing a plurality of rough focusing condition data. Based on the result of the rough focusing condition data, one zone is selected. Furthermore, a precise focusing condition is detected in the selected zone based on the light contained in the selected zone, so as produce a precise focusing condition data. Based on the precise focusing condition data obtained from the selected zone, the objective lens is driven to an infocus condition.

Abstract: An autofocusing camera comprises a focus detecting circuit for repeatedly detecting a foucsing state of an objective lens with respect to a photographic object and outputting a focus adjustment signal, and an object detecting circuit for detecting movement of the object in accordance with a plurality of the focus adjustment signals. The lens is driven during a shutter release operation when the object detecting circuit detects movement of the photographic object. The lens drive is prohibited when the object is moving away from the camera.

Abstract: An automatic focus adjusting apparatus of a camera comprises three CCD sensors receiving light from an object, a focus detecting apparatus for outputting a focus signal indicative of the focusing state of a photographic lens based on output data from the respective CCD sensors, a calculating apparatus for calculating an amount of driving the photographic lens based on the focus signal, a selector for selecting one of the three CCD sensors, a correcting apparatus for correcting the amount of driving calculated based on the output data from the selected CCD sensor, and a driving apparatus for driving the photographic lens to an in-focus position based on the corrected driving amount. An error in foucs detection incidental to the driving of the lens can be corrected based only on the data from one CCD sensor selected by a selector, so that the focusing error on a moving object can be eliminated in a simple manner.

Abstract: A focus detection condition display device suitable for use in a camera provided with an electronic viewfinder. The pattern signal corresponding to a focus detection zone on which focus detection is conducted by a focus detecting system is superimposed on the video signal of the object field and said signal is output to an electronic viewfinder. When the focus detection has become impracticable for such reason as lack of contrast of the object field, or focusing has become impracticable because of the object coming too close to the camera, an alarm is issued by the pattern corresponding to a focus detection zone displayed on the electronic viewfinder displaying in a manner different from that ordinarily used.

Abstract: An AF autofocus camera system for automatically controlling an objective lens for focusing an object including a focus detector for generating defocus data carrying information of a defocus amount and a defocus direction based on a focus condition of an object to be focused through an objective lens detected at a detection cycle, and a focus condition memory for storing defocus data obtained in a present detection cycle, a previous detection cycle, and a cycle before the previous detection cycle. The system further includes first and second infocus detectors for detecting the infocus condition based on the defocus data itself and the average of the defocus data, respectively. First and second lens drive controllers are provided for driving and stopping the objective lens responsive to the first and second infocus detectors, respectively.

Abstract: A camera has an exposure control unit and a focus control unit. The exposure control unit selectively provides a programmed exposure control mode, where an aperture value and a shutter speed value are automatically set based on a detection by a light metering sensor and an accordance with a preset program, and a manual exposure control mode where at least either of the aperture value and the shutter speed value is set manually. The focus control unit selectively provides an autofocus mode where a focusing is automatically effected based on a detection by a focus sensor and a manual focus mode where the focusing is effected manually. The invention is characterized by a feature which permits a forcible switchover of the focus control mode from the manual to the auto focus mode in response to a switchover of exposure control mode from the manual to the auto exposure mode.

Abstract: There is provided an automatic focus control device for use in a camera system comprising a focus detection control means for continuously driving a motor from the time when it is judged that a focus condition of a photograph lens can not be detected until it is judged that the focus condition can be detected, and a rotation number control means for controlling the rotation speed of said motor driven by said focus detection control means in accordance with a constant data designating a relationship between the rotation number of said motor and a unit of a defocus value. Accordingly, the moving speed of said photograph lens is controlled in accordance with defocus variation during the movement of said photograph lens, resulting in that the infocus position of the object can be detected by a low contrast search without overrunning the infocus position, even though the object is positioned far from an available range of the focus detection.

Abstract: An improved focus detecting apparatus comprises a photographic lens, focus adjusting apparatus for driving the photographic lens which has been placed on an initial focusing position to an in-focus position, an auxiliary light emitting apparatus for emitting an auxiliary light and a switch for selecting whether the focus adjustment should be carried out with the auxiliary light emitted or the focus adjustment should be carried out without the auxiliary light. The initial focusing position of the photographic lens can be switched dependent on whether the auxiliary light is emitted or not.